If you’re looking to start creating Instagram videos and Reels, adding captions is an essential skill to acquire.
Luckily, learning how to add captions to Instagram video is simple!
In the guide, I’ll show you the easiest way to add captions to Instagram reels and videos both in the Instagram app, and with AI tools.
Let’s get straight into it. 📽️
How to Add Captions to Instagram Videos
Instagram have made adding captions to your content, Reels, and stories incredibly simple. Here’s how. 👇
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Create A Reel
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Add the Captions Sticker
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Edit Your Captions
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Position Your Captions and Share
1. Create a Reel
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Open Instagram and tap the + (Create) icon at the top of your feed, or swipe right anywhere in your feed
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Allow Instagram to access photos and videos
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At the bottom, tap Reel, select the video you want to use from your camera roll, then tap Next
2. Add the Captions Sticker
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On the editing screen, tap Stickers at the top
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Tap Captions and the Instagram app will automatically begin transcribing your audio
My screenshots show the older Captions button in the Edit video toolbar, so your screen will look a little different now. Instagram's Help Center points you to the Captions sticker instead.
3. Edit Your Captions
Once your captions have transcribed, you can edit the color, font, and wording:
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Tap the captions, then tap the color picker at the top to change their color
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Tap the style options at the bottom to change the font
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To fix a word, tap the captions twice, then tap the word you want to change
When you’re happy with your Instagram video captions, tap Done.
4. Position Your Captions and Share
- Drag the captions to wherever you want them on your video
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Keep them clear of the bottom of the screen, where your Reel's caption and buttons sit
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When you’re happy with the positioning, tap Next, add your post caption and tap Share to upload your Instagram video with captions!
How to Turn On Automatic Closed Captions on Instagram
The Captions sticker shows your captions on screen for everyone. Instagram can also add automatic closed captions, which viewers can switch on or off themselves:
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On the last screen before you share your Reel, tap More options
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Switch on Enable closed captions, and Translate closed captions if you want viewers to see them in their own language
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For a Reel you've already posted, open it from your profile, tap Options (the three dots), tap Edit, then More options and use the same toggles
Captions on reels and videos aren't available to everyone yet, so don't panic if you can't see the toggle.
How to Add Captions in Instagram's Edits App
Instagram's Edits app (free to download on iPhone and Android) has a more powerful captions tool than the main app:
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Open your project in Edits and tap Captions
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Choose the language spoken in your video and a caption style
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Set the transcription controls, like punctuation, title case and whether curse words show
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Tap Generate captions
You can then tap the captions layer to restyle them, edit the text, change the opacity, add a second language (bilingual captions) or move them around, before sharing the finished video to Instagram as a Reel.
Alternative Tools for Adding Captions to Instagram Videos
Adding captions to your content using the Instagram app is free and straightforward, but it lacks a lot of functionality needed by most users.
The good news is there’s a range of AI caption generators that are just as easy to use, if not better!
1. Submagic
Submagic offers highly accurate AI-generated captions with features like auto-emoji and keyword highlights, perfect for enhancing engagement and visual appeal on Instagram videos and Reels.
I took a deep dive into Submagic’s features if you want to learn more about arguably the most popular AI caption generator on the market. Plans start at $19 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly.
2. VEED
VEED provides a user-friendly web app with precise transcription and extensive customization options for captions, making it ideal for creators who need detailed video editing tools beyond what the Instagram app offers. It has a free plan, and paid plans start at $12 a month billed yearly.
Learn more about VEED in this Veed.io review.
3. Captions AI
Captions is an AI video editing app for iPhone, Android and the web. It auto-captions your videos with 100+ caption styles, translates subtitles into 100+ languages, fixes eye contact and trims out pauses and filler words. It's free to download, with paid plans from $9.99 a month.
For more options, see my roundup of the best Submagic alternatives.
What Are the Best Fonts to Use for Instagram Captions?
The best fonts for Instagram captions are bold, simple sans-serifs like Montserrat, Bebas Neue and League Spartan, because they stay readable on a phone screen.
When choosing fonts for Instagram captions, it’s essential to consider readability, aesthetic appeal, and brand consistency. Instagram's caption sticker only offers its own built-in styles, so to use a specific font you'll need an editor that supports custom fonts, like Submagic.
Here are some of the best fonts to use for various styles and purposes:
- Montserrat: A versatile and timeless geometric sans-serif, perfect for professional and formal posts.
- Burbank: Popularized by the game Fortnite, Burbank is a playful and bold font that is great for creating eye-catching and fun Instagram captions, especially for younger audiences or brands with a vibrant personality.
- Bebas Neue: Known for its bold, all-caps style, this font is excellent for creating attention-grabbing headlines and designs.
- League Spartan: A geometric sans-serif font that offers a modern and sleek look, suitable for tech or contemporary-themed content.
- Oswald: With its clean and modern lines, Oswald is ideal for professional or tech-related posts, providing a sleek and contemporary appearance.
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Open Sans: A clean and highly legible sans-serif font, perfect for large volumes of text and ensuring readability on smaller screens.
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Playfair Display: A serif font that exudes elegance and sophistication, ideal for posts that require a touch of class, such as fashion or luxury brands.
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Nunito: A screen-friendly font that is easily readable, making your posts more engaging and accessible for mobile users.
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Dubbo: A retro serif font that adds a nostalgic flair, perfect for brands wanting to evoke a sense of history and timelessness.
These fonts can help elevate your Instagram captions, making them more engaging and visually appealing to your audience.
Why Use Video Captions on Instagram?
Because plenty of people scroll Instagram with the sound off, and captions keep them watching.
If you’ve used Instagram you would have noticed the vast majority of Reels and video content feature video captions.
And there’s good reasons for this!
Here’s 9 reasons you should start captioning Instagram videos today:
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Increase Engagement: Captions on Instagram help grab the viewer’s attention, encouraging them to engage more with your content, whether it’s Instagram videos, Instagram stories, or Instagram Reels.
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Accessibility: Adding captions makes your content accessible to a broader audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Better Understanding: Instagram captions provide context and clarity, helping viewers understand the message behind your content without needing sound.
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Boost SEO: Captions can improve your content’s searchability on the Instagram app, helping you reach a larger audience.
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Reach Non-Native Speakers: For audiences who might not speak the language of your audio, captions offer a written reference that can be translated, enhancing comprehension.
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Quiet Environments: Many users browse Instagram in places where they cannot play audio. Captions ensure your message is conveyed even with the sound off.
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Consistency Across Formats: Using Instagram captions consistently across various formats like Instagram videos, stories, and Reels creates a unified and professional appearance.
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Enhanced Storytelling: Captions allow for better storytelling, providing additional information, humor, or context that enhances the viewer’s experience.
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Engage Scrollers: Captions can catch the attention of users scrolling through their feed, increasing the chances they’ll stop and watch your content.
Wrapping Up
Today I outlined how to add Instagram video captions to Instagram Reels using both the app, and purpose built AI caption tools.
While Instagram’s captioning feature is free and easy to use, it lacks functionality for some users.
Tools like Submagic and VEED are great options for those who need that extra editing power over their auto generated captions.
Happy editing! ✌️
